Paired-roll crushers with peripheral sizing pockets on each roll



Dec. 11, 1951 T J GLJNDLACH 2,578,540

PAIRED-ROLIJ Ci QU-SHERS WITH PERIPHERAL SIZING-POCKETS ON EACH ROLLFiled Sept. 16, 1949 FIG.I.

IIIIII 4/ 4 3/ .55 w INVENTOR i 47 THEODORE J. GUNDLACH,

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Dec. 11, 1951 PAIRED-ROLL CRUSHERS WITH PERIPH- ERAL SIZINGPOCKETS ON EACH ROLL Theodore J. Gundlach, Belleville, Ill. ApplicationSeptember 16, 1949, Serial No. 116,118

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in crushers for coal and thelike, and more particularly to an improved formation of crushing rollsfor such purposes, the improvements being of such nature as to reduce asubstantial proportion of the larger sizes of coal to a size of asmaller more or less definite grading.

By reason of increasing commercial demand for coal of domestic stokersizes, there has arisen a need for a compact crusher unit of such naturethat it may be utilized by wholesale coalyards and others, for sizingmine-run and larger coal, substantially completely to stoker size.Within the knowledge of this applicant, no such device has heretoforebeen available in satisfactory and efficient type, to need this demand;.the realization of a suitable unit for such purpose accordinglyconstitutes a major objective of the present invention.

The present invention may perhaps best be summarized by reference to thefeatures of a preferred embodiment, currently described, as consistingof a novel pattern of surface ribs and bars on a pair of coactin crusherrolls, such that the ribs and bars define coal-receiving pockets in andclose to the crushing zone between the rolls, such pockets being soshaped and dimensioned as to result in the desired size of coal, andimportantly, such as to minimize the crushing efiect on the coal whenonce reduced to size, and which otherwise would result in a highpercentage of fines, slack and unwanted smaller sizes.

Additional objects and advantages of the present developments include anovel formation of crushing ribs and bars on the surfaces of a pair ofcrushing rolls, such that, whether formed integrally with the rolls orby applied surface sections, the projections on each roll intervene andcoact with recess portions on the companion roll to attain the notedresult.

A still further and important object of the present invention, isrealized in such an arrangement of coal-crushing elements on pairedrolls for this purpose, that there results by coaction of the rolls avirtual isolation of the individual sized units or small lumps, fromeach other and from the remaining coal mass, whereby to preclude anundesirable nature and extent of crushing action on the coal, when oncereduced to desired size.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages of the inventionwill more clearly appear from the following detailed description of apreferred embodiment, particularly when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of an assembly embodying the presentimprovements, together with power drive means therefor;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the assembly shown by Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view taken in staggered, horizontal planes, of pairedcrusher rolls as same would appear in assembly, Fig. 3 being, takenalong line 3--3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a train of gearing through which theroll shafts are operatively interconnected in timed relation.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, the assembly ismounted on a stationary base or supportin frame structure generallyindicated at l0, and including an extension ledge or bracket l I for thesupport of an electric motor M, assuming the unit to be electricallypowered. A V-belt pulley PI of multiple V-belt type is shown as carriedby the shaft of motor M, and is operatively connected in speed-reducingrelation through a series of multiple V-belts VB to a larger pulley P2attached to a shaft [2.

The shaft I2 rotatively supports one of a pair of crusher rollsindicated generally at [3, which acts, in a manner which will bedescribed, in conjunction with a companion roll generally indicated atl4, in the reduction of coal or similar frangible solids. The shaft i4is attached to and rotatively supported by a shaft l5 which, as willappear, is in driven relation to the powered shaft [2, and which bears adefinitely timed relation thereto.

Supported as by the base H] is a hopper or similar structure forreceiving the coal prior to sizing or crushing, the hopper being formedin any suitable or conventional manner and includes end walls l6 and H,and suitable side walls one of which is indicated at l8, together withsuitable internal baiiles a pair of which are shown at 20 and 2| servingto direct the incoming coal or like material onto the rolls i3 and I4.

Suitable pillow blocks or bearing blocks for the shafts l2 and I5 areindicated at 22 and. 23. It is particularly desirable that at least oneset, for example the blocks 23, be mounted to permit under extremestress, a horizontal sliding movement against suitable springs (notshown), or otherwise so mounted that the crushing rolls l3 and I4 mayyieldably separate upon encountering an infrangible object, for examplea large piece of metal. Such facilities are not illustrated since theyform per se, no part of the present improvements directed to the surfaceformation and contouring of the crusher rolls.

Proceeding now to describe the novel external pattern, configuration orarrangement of crushelements on the rolls l3 and i i, it may first benoted, as making for brevity of description, that the two rolls are ormay be of identical surface formation except by preference being end-Wise or axially reversed, as will later better ppear. Such uniformity ofsurface formation and other features, makes for economy in production;for example, as is sometimes preferred, the two rolls may each be formedas a single casting, and a single set of patterns will suflice for each.Alternately, it, is quite possible to form the crushing elements of eachof the rolls in sections or segments each in part cylindrical form, andto attach such sections (not shown) by bolts 01' screws to a cylindricalbody element of the roll. Accordingly, the improvements are to beunderstood as embracing the claimed arrangement and structure to attainthe crushing action, irrespective of the makeup of each of the rolls.

With particular reference first to Fig. 4, being the diagrammaticshowing of a gear connection between the paired coacting crusher rolls,it is seen that a gear 24 is attached to shaft l2 and a similar gear 25secured to shaft i5. Since the gears 2 3 and 25 must operate toward eachother in directing the coal into the crushing zone between the rolls,two intervening drive pinions 25 and 21 are provided, the pinion 26meshing with gear 24, and in turn engaging pinion 2'5, and the latterengaging the gear 25 which drives roll [4. Thus when moter M isenergized, the V- belt drive pulley P2 will actuate shaft 52 which inturn, through the gearing 24-2fi-2l and 2'5, will drive the roll i4through shaft it.

Now with reference to the arrangement and nature of crushing elementsformed on and projecting from the surface of the rolls i3 and hi, itwill appear that each of the rolls comprises a plurality, shown forexample as four, of circumferential ribs, one of which is designated as33, being an end rib on the roll, and others indicated at 3|, carriedintermediately of the ends of the roll. Each of the ribs intersects aplurality of evenly, angularly spaced cross bars including bars 32 whichproject from the end rib 38, and others shown at 33, each of the latterbeing centrally intersected by one of the ribs 3| of which it forms apart. half length, while those indicated at 33 are of a lengthapproximating yet slightly less than the axial spacing between theadjacent circumferential ribs. In the assembly on each roll it and It,

the same number of cross bars 32 or 33 are provided in connection witheach of the circumferential ribs, the cross bars being aligned in rowsas will appear from Fig. 3, but with a definite break or interruption asindicated at 34, between the rows of cross bars. The series of spaces 3dresult in a groove or channel, which channel serves to receive one ofthe circumferential ribs of the companion roll of the pair, as clearlyappears from Fig. 3.

It is further noted as a preference and as shown, to form each of thecross bars 32 and 33 of a tapered transverse section so that eachexhibits a greater section of metal at its base than at its top. Furtheras a preference, each cross bar is of tapered length, increasing inlength from its outer portion toward its inner or base portion (Fig. 3).

It is a preference so to form the crusher rolls that the pattern of ribsand cross bars thereon is asymmetric as to arrangement thereof betweenThe cross bars 32 are of onethe ends of the rolls. While the spacing ofthe ribs from each other is uniform, this spacing is preferably otherthan an even small aliquot part of the length of the roll, and fromthese features results the facility for endwise reversing the rolls,with the interfitting effect shown by Fig. 3, whereby each of the ribs3Il-3i of each roll operates in one of the channels or grooves 34 of thecompanion roll.

By reason of the aforesaid structure, it will appear that the ribs andcross bars of the two rolls coact in the crushing zone therebetween, toform more or less defined pockets 35. These pockets are of a sizedetermined by the size of the desired coal, and their dimensions are, byway of present example, such that each such pocket will receive withoutfurther crushing action thereon, a lump of coal of domestic stoker size.The pockets 35 may obviously be reproportioned for example, should coalof nut, egg or other usual trade size be desired.

As the rolls are rotated, the coal is broken and reduced to a size suchas will be received in the several pockets between the rolls at theirclosest point, and will be discharged by gravity from the surfaceformations of both rolls, in passing below or beyond the crushing zone.The pockets as described are laterally bounded by the circumferentiallylocated ribs 30 and 3 i and are endwise bounded by the cross ribs 32 or33.

It is important to note that the timed relation between the rolls i3 andi4 is such that the cross bars 32 and 33 of each roll, in passingthrough the crushing zone, fall between the cross bars of the companionroll, and similarly are presented in the crushing zone, between anadjacent pair of the circumferential ribs. This precludes direct impactbetween corresponding crushing elements of the two rolls properlydefines the pockets as the coal passes through the crushing zone.

The construction of the crushing rolls apart from their novel surfaceportions, is or may be conventional, but by preference, includes a fulllength shaft hub or sleeve such as indicated at 35 on the roll l3, andat 3? on the roll ill. Securement may be effected as by a key 4? andkeyway (not shown) between each of the hubs and the supporting shaft.The body of each of the rolls is by preference of a heavy-wall, hollowconstruction, the outer wall of which is indicated at 453, and which isconnected in usual manner as by end webs 4| connected to the hub orsleeve, the webs being suitably apertured as at 42.

It will now have appeared that the described formation and arrangementof crushing elements for the purpose noted, will serve fully to attaineach of the several objectives hereinabove expressed, as well aspurposes and novel results stated and implied in the description.Although the invention has been described by making reference to asingle exemplary embodiment, the detail of description should beunderstood in an instructive rather than in any restrictive sense,

.- numerous variants being possible within the scope of the claimshereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a rotary reducing and sizing device for coal or the like, a pairof adjacent coacting rolls, each of said rolls including on its outersurface a series of spaced, circumferential depthwise tapered,continuous ribs, a plurality of spaced cross bars extended laterally oneach rib, each rib and the connected cross bars being axially spacedfrom the adjacent ribs and bars, the two rolls having similar formationsof ribs and bars and being so mounted and operativcly interconnectedthat the ribs of one roll intervene the ribs of the other roll, and thecross bars of each roll are presented, at any given time in the crushingzone, between the cross bars of the opposite roll, the ribs and crossbars of the paired rolls coacting in the zone between the rolls toprovide therein substantially wide, coal-sizing pockets, each fullylaterally bounded and proportioned to the size of coal to be deliveredfrom the rolls.

2. In a sizing device for reducing coal or like solids, a pair ofcoacting, interfitting rotary rolls, each of said rolls including aseries of surface projections comprising continuous circumferential ribsand cross bars normal thereto, the ribs and cross bars of the pairedrolls forming a series of substantially wide rectangular sizing pockets,each lying in a curved plane, and arranged to be brought successively tothe crushing zone between the rolls, the sides of the pockets beinguninterruptedly bounded by the circumferential ribs of the oppositerolls, and the ends of pockets continuously bounded by the cross bars ofthe opposite rolls, as the ribs and bars are brought to a sizing zonebetween the rolls.

3. in a crusher and sizing device for coal or the like, a pair ofcoacting, interfitting crusher rolls, each of said rolls being providedwith a series of uniformly axially spaced, uninterrupted circumferentialribs, and further provided with a series of uniformly angularly spacedbars intersecting and integral with the ribs, the bars being interruptedbetween the ribs to formgrooves, and the rolls being arranged so thatone of the ribs of one roll closely engages a groove therefor in theopposite roll, with the ribs and bars of each roll substantiallyincompletely penetrating the spaces of the companion roll, and beingproportioned and ooacting to result in wide, rectangular coal pockets inthe crushing zone, proportioned to the final size of coal delivered fromthe rolls.

4. In a crusher and sizing device for reducing coal or like solids, apair of coacting crusher rolls, each of said rolls having a series ofspaced continuous, circumferential linear flat-top ribs and a series offiat-top cross bars integral with, normal to and intersecting each suchrib, each roll having a rib at one of its ends, and provided with arib-receiving formation at its opposite end, the rolls being endwisereversed such that the end rib of each roll engages a substantial widthof the said formation on the end of the opposite roll, and the rollsbeing operatively interconnected in such timed relation that the crossbars of each roll are presented to the crushing zone in alternation tothose of the companion roll, the ribs and cross bars of the paired rollsbeing so proportioned to their peripheral and axial spacing so to formlarge, laterally confined coal-sizing pockets in the zone between therolls.

5. In a crusher for the reduction of size of coal and like solids, apair of coacting, operatively interconnected, crushing rolls, eachcharacterized by a metal surface formation, such surface formation ofeach roll consisting of a series of axially spaced, circumferentiallylinear and continuous ribs, a series of cross bars each consisting of adistinctly angular extension of one of the ribs, the cross bars beingarranged substantially evenly angularly spaced about the roll, and in agiven series along the several ribs, the

cross bars being formed as extensions of the ribs and arranged on theroll in linear rows, there being a substantial and uniform space betweenthe ends of adjacent cross bars whereby the spaced bars define at theirends, a circumferential groove adapted to receive and closely engage oneof the ribs of the companion roll, each of the rolls being provided witha rib at one of its ends, and being characterzied by the absence of therib at its opposite end, whereby to form on such opposite end arib-receiving seat, the arrangement of ribs on each roll beingasymmetrical so that the ribs and bars of each roll intervene thecorresponding elements of the opposite roll, the width and spacing ofthe continuous ribs and the cross bars being such as to result in aseries of pockets for coal of substantial size, remaining in thecrushing zone between the rolls, and the rolls being so operativelyrelated and timed that the corresponding cross bars of the oppositerolls are alternately presented to a crushing zone be tween the rolls;means for feeding the coal to the crushing zone, and means for drivingthe rolls and operatively conecting same in timed relation.

6. In a crusher for the reduction of size of coal and like solids, apair of coacting, operatively interconnected, interfitting crushingrolls, leach characterized by a metal surface formation, such surfaceformation of each roll consisting of a series of axially spaced,circumferentially linear and continuous ribs of substantial depth orheight, each having a flattened outer surface and of clepthwise taperingsection, a series of cross bars each consisting of a right angularextension of one of the ribs, the cross bars being arranged parallel tothe axis of the roll and substantially evenly angularly spaced about theroll, and in a given series along the several ribs, the cross bars beingformed in equal number as extensions of the ribs and arranged on theroll with the corre sponding cross bars in mutual axial alignmentwhereby the cross bars are arranged in linear rows, there being asubstantial and uniform space between the ends of adjacent cross barswhereby the spaced bars define at their ends, a circumferential grooveadapted to receive and closely engage one of the ribs of the companionroll, each of the rollsbeing provided with a rib at one of its ends, andbeing characterized by the absence of the rib at its opposite end,whereby to form on such opposite end a rib-receiving seat, the rollsbeing relatively endwise reversed in assembly and the arrangement ofribs on each roll being asymmetrical so that the ribs and bars of eachroll intervene the corresponding elements of the opposite roll, and therolls being so operatively related and timed that the correspondingcross bars of the opposite rolls are alternately presented to a crushingzone between the rolls; means for feeding the coal to the crushing zone,and means for driving the rolls and operatively connecting same in timedrelation.

THEODORE J. GUNDLACH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 571,264 Culver Nov. 10, 1896954,134 Renear Apr. 5, 1910

